Expert Draft- My team
By Editorial Staff
Round 1
ESPN picked Chris Johnson
I had pick eight. So I was all set up, laptop ready with some cheat sheets handy, about to log into the draft with about 10 minutes to spare, and my laptop crashed. This left me to frantically try to reboot and, failing that, fire up the desktop. I logged into the draft five minutes late, just in time to watch my first pick be selected by autopick…Chris Johnson. Catastrophe, the first round and I don’t even get to make my pick. Now, had I been drafting instead of ESPN, I would have gone with Chris Johnson. I understand why the first seven drafters bypassed him, with his contract status so up in the air, but I feel it is worth the risk. I got a consensus top-three RB with pick eight. I do not seem him missing games so for me it was too much value not to take him.
Round 2
Drew Brees
Normally I wait on QB, rarely taking one of the top five, especially in 10-team leagues, choosing to load up on running backs. In a 12-team league, however, I did not want to be stuck with one of the back end of the lot at starting QB. I had Brees as my second-ranked quarterback behind only Rogers. Brees comes with great upside, consistency and very little risk, exactly what I look for in my QB. I did consider Hakeem Nicks with this spot and think he would have provided good value at this spot, but he lacks the proven track record of Brees.
Round 3
DeSean Jackson
As the round was unfolding, I had every intention of going wide receiver. I was hoping one of the Dallas wide-outs would fall to me. I think Romo will have a bounce back year and both Dallas receivers will put up gaudy numbers. However, they went in picks 29 and 30. When they were gone, I considered taking Legarrette Blount. I was afraid of what my receivers would look like if I went RB again, forcing me to chase the position for the rest of the draft. So back to the wide receivers. I went with DeSean Jackson, whose big play talent is undeniable. Maclin’s undisclosed illness and subsequent weight loss should further cement Jackson’s role as the top dog in Philly’s aerial attack.
Round 4
Ryan Mathews
Rarely does a fantasy season hinge on one pick, yet this is the pick that will define me this season. In the overall review of our expert draft, this was considered a reach, and I would not disagree. However, the pick was not a mistake and if we were doing the draft over I would do it again. I loved Mathews last year, taking him in numerous leagues. An early leg injury derailed his season and Mathews never got on track. Mike Tolbert preformed well with the opportunity, but to me he lacks the overall talent of Mathews. The Chargers traded up to get Mathews and are invested in his future. With Rivers, Vincent Jackson and Gates occupying the focus of defensive coordinators, Mathews isn’t going to be asked to beat many eight-man fronts. Mathews is not without risk: maybe I’m wrong about his talent or maybe Tolbert isn’t just a newer version of Fat Lendell White. I think Mathews steps up and finishes the season at the back end of the top 10 at RB, and if so, he is a steal at this point. In the final game of last season, also not coincidentally the only game where Mathews was given 20+ carries, he put up an outstanding line, 26 carries for 120 yards and three TDs. The running backs still available at the time of my pick were Knowshon, the daily show J Stew, C Benson, Felix Jones, and Javid Best. None of those backs are without risks of their own, and to me they simply lack the ceiling of Mathews. I understand that most people have Mathews ranked much lower, but this is where I think he belongs and I drafted him accordingly. Had I waited with the intention of grabbing him later, who knows if he would have been around and I would have been left with a lesser running back on my own board. Mathews is going 59th overall in ESPN drafts; I took him with pick 41. So am I a genius, or just Al Davis?
Round 5
Dallas Clark
I love Dallas Clark this year. He is coming off a season-ending surgery, so some people may shy away from Clark. But he had a wrist injury; this isn’t a case of a player returning from a major knee surgery. Marvin Harrison is long gone, Reggie Wayne’s skills are on the decline, Collie isn’t sure what year it is right now, and Garcon is the definition of inconsistent, but Peyton Manning still has Clark. The TE is a lock for 90+ catches, 1,000 yards and double-digit TDs. Witten might have more catches, Mercedez Lewis might have more TDs, and Finley might have more yards, but none of them will
match Clark’s overall production as he competes for the top spot at the position. Gates is still the top dog when healthy, but he has questions about his leg injuries and I got Clark 18 spots later. That being said, if Peyton misses significant time, that would DRASTICALLY drop Clark’s value maybe to the point I might have to find someone off the waiver wire.
Round 6
Sidney Rice
In terms of skill set, Rice is a great receiver. But ask Brandon Marshall, Larry Fitzgerald or Steve Smith what good that does for you when your quarterback isn’t very good. So while Rice has the ability to be a top-flight receiver, I am only expecting WR2-type production from him due to Tavaris Jackson being his quarterback. The two did have some chemistry in Minnesota with 7 of his 24 career touchdown passes having gone to Rice.
Round 7
Johnny Knox
Settled for Knox. Think he will end up being Bears’ top
receiver again.
Round 8
Ryan Torain
I really wanted Bennie Wells, but he went one pick before mine. I then debated between Pierre Thomas and my eventual selection of Torain. Both are in the midst of muddled congested backfields, and both are coached by head coaches who have a track record of driving fantasy owners crazy. Thomas is the more gifted back, but I have Brees so I was inclined to stay away from Pierre. The addition of Sproles to fill the role of Reggie Bush, the drafting of top RB Ingram, and Chris Ivory still remaining on the Saints roster make it hard for me to see a scenario where Thomas gets enough carries to provide much. Torain has long been a favorite of Shanahan since their days in Denver. Hightower has looked good so far in preseason, so I may come to regret this pick as Hightower did not get picked until after my ninth-round pick, 19 picks after I
selected Torain.
Round 9
Jordy Nelson
Love this pick, think he has potential to have a huge season as he takes snaps away from the aged Donald Driver and on the other side of Jennings. He is a big receiver who makes a good red-zone target. Finley returning and James Jones resigning may cap Nelson somewhat, as does the production of Jennings, but with Rogers at QB, he has a shot to be a sleeper.
Round 10
Thomas Jones
Continuing in my task of collecting RB and WRs I took the backup in KC. Charles is electric, but he is a little undersized and if he gets dinged up, Jones gets the lion’s share of carries. Plus he has shown to be a good goal line back and should still vulture his share of touchdowns.
Round 11
Dion Branch
Still has some guy named Brady throwing him the ball.
Round 12
A defense
Round 13
Justin Forsett
Round 14
Mike Williams
Okay, at the time I was just looking for upside guys. And Williams does have the potential. But I have Sidney Rice and their QB will either be Charlie Whitehurst or current starter Tavaris Jackson… Vomit.
Round 15
Randy Moss
Lottery ticket time. Anyone I passed on here I can still grab on the wire, so there is no risk in this pick. If he signs on somewhere he might still provide decent numbers; he is not a top-five wide receiver, but he is not without talents. In the right situation, maybe he can still be relevant, on the field and in fantasy. Most likely he continues to waste his talents and he is just the first person I cut when I need bye week fill-ins.
Round 16
Random kicker, I forget which one.